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How to Choose the Right Plants - It’s Plant Catalogue Time!

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It is January, which means that it is seed and plant catalogue time. I have already received the first catalogues of the year shortly after New Year’s Day. If you are like me, you page through the catalogue, look at all the beautiful plants, and wonder if they will grow in your gardens.

Step 1: Research Your Plants

When you are deciding what plants you will purchase and use in your ornamental bed , do some investigation. The first thing you should do is some research on each plant. Most seed and garden catalogues provide information on the hardiness zones for each plant. I have included a Hardiness Zones map from the National Arbor Day Foundation in case the catalogue you have does not include that information. Use this information to determine if the plant will actually survive in your area. Many times, the catalogue will include a range of zones, meaning that the plant will grow best in, say, zones 3 to 6. This is probably not a plant you should choose if you live in the warmer parts of the U.S.

Step 2: Analyze Your Planting Area

The next thing to check is the eventual size of the plants you want to purchase. Many times, homeowners will not look at this information and buy too many of the same plant to fill in an area quickly. However, what generally happens is the planting area is quickly overgrown and crowded, forcing you to dig out many of the plants you purchased. Plants need room to grow. Too many times, the eventual size of the plant, especially trees, far exceeds the space where it is placed in a landscape. Before you know it, that 4-foot high crabapple that looked so cute planted three feet from the house 10 years ago has grown and covered half of the front of your house, obstructing views and air circulation. Many times, the only remedy is to cut down and remove the tree. No amount of pruning will save the natural shape and beauty of the tree. You need to use caution and proper tree care when you’re planning the layout of your landscape.

Step 3: Consider the Plant Requirements

The other thing to take into consideration is light requirements. Many times, the company will include a little icon that will show whether a plant grows best in full sun, partial sun or shade. Choose plants based on light availability of your yard’s planting area. It’s important to think about these things when you’re making your landscape plan for the next season. The last thing you need is to buy too many plants and end up with an overcrowded garden or an unhealthy growing environment for your plants.